Types of Semantics

The “Full Feature” Semantic Responses

These are the three “main” types of searches. These are CSV, JSON and XML. They have been designed to allow you to ask for more than just simple search results. You can also ask for things like format codes and descriptions, change records and Service bodies. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll only cover one parameter: the switcher parameter, which you add to your URL, to elicit these responses.

Examples

Standard meeting Searches

These are standard searches. You add the switcher parameter as “=GetSearchResults”, which tells the root server to execute a search, and return the results to you in the requested format.

Administration Changes

These return changes made to the meeting lists. You add the switcher parameter as “=GetChanges”, which tells the root server to return the changes in which you are interested in the requested format. This example, for simplicity’s sake, will return all of the changes ever made. That results in a very large response. In reality, you will filter for more specific ranges of changes.

In the following pages, we’ll cover the specific parameters that you can supply with the “GetSearchResults” and “GetChanges” values of the switcher parameter. The “GetFormats” and “GetServiceBodies” values ignore any other parameters, and return the same things each time.

NAWS Dump

As of Root Server Release version 2.4.6, it is now possible to get a simple, direct, NAWS-format CSV dump from the server. This is done by using the “switcher=GetNAWSDump&sb_id=XXX” parameters, where “XXX” is the BMLT ID of the Service body (and any Service bodies contained, therein -for example, specifying a Region will also return all its constituent ASCS) that you wish to dump.

The Geographic Semantic Responses

These are the three searches that return simple results, designed to be used for mapping/GPS applications (GPX, KML and POI CSV). They only allow meeting searches (no formats or Service bodies), and return a greatly simplified response.